Buyu’s story is one that I wish every young person in the developed world could hear. If you have not heard her story go to “No Longer Stateless” from Feb. 2016 in this blog.
Assuming that you know her background now, let me tell you what has just happened. She has successfully finished all of the courses required to get her B.A. in nursing! On Jan. 26th she graduated from Nation University in Lampang with about 200+ other students. Buyu is our 5th college graduate student since the Seed of Hope was started in 2015. But she is our first student to graduate with a B.A. degree! What makes this such an epic story is that most marginalized and stateless youth around the world, like many Akha people, believe the lie that they are not capable of reaching higher goals. Many believe the lie that there isn’t hope. Buyu had every excuse to wallow in poverty, doubt and bad circumstances to excuse a life of compromise and hopelessness. But she stayed on the course in spite of all this to accomplish a B.A. We are so thankful for the donors who have contributed to the Living Hope Trust that empowers students who want to go on and receive higher education. Not only has Buyu graduated with a B.A. but she also has a job and is working full time now at a dentist office!
Buyu’s family arrived at the graduation ceremony in their traditional Akha tribal clothing.
This was a bold move as there is a history of ethnic tribal peoples being openly discriminated against. For the last century and more they have been treated as unwanted and lowly in the more educated and developed Thai society. The presence of Buyu’s family turned the heads of all parents, siblings and other guests attending the ceremony as I’m sure, she was among few ethnic minority graduating there. This day was a landmark, a moment in the history of Seed of Hope that should never be forgotten.
Many young students at Seed of Hope will now have the opportunity to see a real-life example of someone who reached higher and achieved.
To learn how to donate to the Living Hope Education Fund go to our website at: